District 1 Arts Festival. Image by Brian Hatton

Mission

Abrons Arts Center builds a community where artists, learners, and audiences explore creative possibility. Rooted in the immigrant and working-class history of our Lower East Side neighborhood, we offer free and affordable exhibitions, performances, classes, residencies, and space access.

Learn About Our History

Vision

We envision a future where art is a vital public good; where our Center is a place for people to gather, create, learn, and connect; and where our work is sustained, balanced, and meaningful.

Values

We believe in the power of creativity, experimentation, and action — Art is essential for personal and community well-being; learning leads to growth; and we play a part of being in a caring and just world.

Indigenous Land Acknowledgement

Nulelìntàmuhëna èli paèkw Lenapehoking
Kulawsihëmo ènta ahpièkw.
Nooleelundamuneen eeli payeekw Lunaapeewahkiing. Wulaawsiikw neeli apiiyeekw.
We are glad because you people came to Lenapehoking. Live well when you are here.

Abrons Arts Center is situated on the Lenape island of Manhahtaan (Mannahatta) in Lenapehoking, the Lenape homeland. We pay respect to Lenape peoples, past, present, and future and their continuing presence in the homeland and throughout the Lenape diaspora. We offer our care and gratitude to the land, water and air of Lenapehoking, and are committed to resisting colonialism and imbalance with Mother Earth through the support of Indigenous-led programming and Indigenous artistic practices.

Thank you to the Lenape Center and Emily Johnson for their partnership in developing Abrons Arts Center’s Indigenous Land Acknowledgement.